About
Erodium x variabile 'Joe Elliott' is a named cultivar of Erodium in the Geraniaceae that flowers from May to September. It sits within the genus Erodium, a group whose species produce five-petalled, crane's-bill style flowers. As a cultivar, it is best regarded on its own merits when assessing flowering performance and seasonal behaviour. Observation through a full season will show how it performs in your local conditions.
About the genus
Erodium is a genus of flowering plants in the botanical family Geraniaceae. The genus includes about 120 species with a subcosmopolitan distribution, native to Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, and more locally in North and South America. They are perennials, annuals, or subshrubs, with five-petalled flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple, that strongly resemble the better-known Geranium (crane's-bills).
Wikipedia contributors, "Erodium", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Erodium
In the garden
Erodium x variabile 'Joe Elliott' belongs to the genus Erodium within the Geraniaceae. The wider genus includes a range of perennial, annual and subshrub species found across Europe, North Africa, Asia and other regions, and members are commonly referred to as stork's-bills. Flowers in the genus are typically five-petalled and resemble small geranium-type blooms; for 'Joe Elliott' the reliable flowering window in the UK runs from May to September. Requirements and behaviour vary across Erodium taxa, so treat this cultivar as you would any purchased perennial: note its habit and flowering in the first season and adapt placement accordingly. If you need detailed soil, aspect or hardiness guidance, check the supplier notes or trial a single specimen to establish its preferences before massing it in the garden. Use the plant where a compact, seasonally flowering cultivar suits your scheme, and monitor its flowering from May to September to judge whether it meets expectations for repeat performance in your garden.
From the Fenn Plants journal
- Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.
More in the Erodium genus
- Erodium Reichardii RoseumStork's-bill
- Erodium macradenumHeron's Bill
- Erodium carvifoliumcaraway-leaved heron's bill
- Erodium trichomanifoliumHeron's Bill